Set in Balochistan, the book narrates a tale of two boys, Timmy and Changez Khan, who are left alone on a camping trip by their parents. To make matters worse, an earthquake ends up closing the entrance to the valley where they have wandered off by themselves. What follows is a rib-tickling journey of survival in which the brothers must overcome plenty of obstacles, including fascinating creatures, by working alongside each other.
It is, however, Shandana’s writing style more than the plot that makes for a gripping read. Spanning over 180 pages, complete with illustrations, the story has been told from the point of view of Changez, who believes his brother is a complete dunderhead, sparing a few strokes of intelligence. The dialogue between the two is thoughtfully written, but it is the interaction between the animals, who have a unique voice and personality of their own, and the boys that forbids the reader from bookmarking it for a later read. Some of the interesting characters include a straightforward and no-nonsense sparrow (referred to as a baby golden eagle by Timmy), who states his job is to get the brothers to safety, a Yoda-like bear, who is admittedly one of the best written characters in the book, and a fuming dragon, whose dialogues have been aptly penned in capitals. As you start to wish the dragon would disappear, for instance, you are introduced to strange-looking owls with their own set of eccentricities. Also giving the boys company and a run for their lives are Velociraptor dinosaurs, Baluchitheriums (the largest land mammal) and a Chiltan Markhor (a wild goat).
Unlike other adventure stories, that mostly omit the lurking sense of danger from the narrative, Survival Tips for Lunatics retains the reader’s curiosity at every step along the way, having kept young readers in mind. Teeming with animals, it is slightly reminiscent of Life of Pi and takes readers on a light-hearted ride across the less-talked about province of Pakistan.
Everyday tales from Pakistan
Tunnel Vision
Another Shandana Minhas book, this one follows the story of a young woman, named Ayesha, who goes into a coma after a road accident. Her story is, therefore, revealed in a “stream of consciousness”. Written in a humorous way, the book narrates the protagonist’s interaction with Karachi, giving the city a character of its own.
Moth Smoke
Mohsin Hamid’s book narrates the tale of a banker whose life starts to spiral downwards after he is laid off from his job and, in response, resorts to substance abuse. Set in Lahore, it highlights the class differences in Pakistani society.
A God In Every Stone
Written by Kamila Shamsie, the book is set in Peshawar and narrates the story of Vivian Rose Spencer, a British archaeologist who arrives in the city to unearth its past with the help of a local, Najeeb Gul, who also shares the same goal.
Riffat Rashid is a freelance journalist. She tweets @RiffyR
Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, November 2nd, 2014.
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